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Keegan Lowe following in his father's footsteps

by
Mike G. Morreale

TORONTO -- It was only eight years ago that Keegan Lowe, the son of six-time Stanley Cup champion and current Edmonton Oilers President of Hockey Operations Kevin Lowe, was assigned to be a runner for the Oilers during the NHL Entry Draft at Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

His duties included fetching drinks and snacks for the scouts and club officials at the draft table while player evaluations and selections were made over the course of the two-day event. It was a job that ultimately had a profound effect on his playing career.

"I can't remember whether I was 8 or 9 years old, but that was great seeing the guys putting on their jerseys for the first time," Keegan Lowe told NHL.com. "That's when I started to dream … I wanted that to be me one day."

Slowly but surely, Lowe is living out that dream -- following in the footsteps of his dad. The elder Lowe was drafted in the first round (No. 21) by Edmonton in 1979 and played 19 seasons in the NHL, winning five Stanley Cups in Edmonton and another with the New York Rangers.

Born in the USA

It appears Keegan Lowe, born in Connecticut but currently residing in Edmonton, will remain loyal to the red, white and blue.

Lowe, who has dual citizenship, last week won a silver medal for Team USA at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. He was one of two players invited to the 2010 NHL Research, Development and Orientation Camp Fueled By G Series -- forward Seth Ambroz of Omaha in the United States Hockey League being the other -- to skate for the U.S. at the Hlinka tournament.

"It was a tough choice, but I respect both countries -- and since my dad was a big part of Hockey Canada, it was a little weird," he said. "But once I put the U.S. jersey on, I knew that's where I wanted to be. I received some jokes about it back home, and even my grandma told me she'd cheer for me to do good but didn't want my team to win."

Keegan's father, Kevin Lowe, feels it's no longer unusual to see players living in Canada and playing for the United States, or vice-versa.

"I saw that a long time ago when Bryan Trottier (born in Saskatchewan) played for the U.S. and Peter Stastny (Czechoslovakia) played for Team Canada in one of the Canada Cups," Lowe said. "It's more evident nowadays then back then.

"I liked (Keegan's) initial response when he was asked to play at the Ivan Hlinka Tournament -- he just said, 'I'm honored to get that opportunity.' I was also impressed with how he said he'd feel really proud to wear the USA jersey because a lot of kids in the U.S. would relish that opportunity."

Kevin Lowe knows it could be a pretty sticky situation if Keegan ever were to earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic roster.

"I'm sure if it came down to the Olympics some day, I'm sure it'll be hard for him not to play for Canada," he said.

-- Mike G. Morreale

Keegan, a 17-year-old defenseman with the Western Hockey League's Edmonton Oil Kings, not only plays the same position as his father, but he plays on the same ice where his father spent 15 seasons -- the Oil Kings' home ice is Rexall Place.

"There's pressure playing in the same rink your dad played and people say your dad got you into places, but I'm the type of person who can just forget about that stuff and play the game, so it's great to experience," the younger Lowe said. "During the Canadian national anthem, just looking up into the stands and seeing the names of (Wayne) Gretzky, (Mark) Messier and (Jari) Kurri … all the names retired there. It's unreal to play in that building."

At just over 6 feet tall and 172 pounds, Keegan Lowe is a bit smaller than his father (6-2, 200) was during his playing days. But he had a solid WHL debut, finishing with 2 goals, 14 points and 60 penalty minutes in 69 games.

Father and son both attended the 2010 NHL Research, Development and Orientation Camp Fueled By G Series at the Toronto Maple Leafs' practice facility Wednesday and Thursday -- Keegan as one of the top 2011 Entry Draft prospects tasked with bringing possible rule changes to life, Kevin as an interested observer in how those changes might affect the way the game is played -- and as a proud parent.

"It's fun to watch him," Kevin Lowe told NHL.com. "He loves the game and really is passionate about it. It doesn't get any better than that in terms of how I view him. I really enjoy how he's developed; he's been a little bit a late bloomer in terms of his peer group, but every year he seems to improve quicker and quicker and seems to have caught up to his peer group to the point he now fits in well and he's out here (at the RDO Camp), so that's pretty special."

Keegan realizes the RDO camp is the first step in leaving some sort of impression on the scouts, coaches and general managers in attendance.

"My mom and dad always tell me to play my own game and forget about everyone else," he said. "So I don't worry about other people and what they're doing on the ice."

In addition to Kevin Lowe, Keegan's mother, Karen Percy, was a two-time bronze-medalist in Alpine skiing for Canada at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, so athletes abound in the Lowe household. Karen also was the one making certain the frozen ice rink in the family's backyard was properly hosed down and ready for action since dad usually was away on business.

There was a time when Keegan had to choose between continuing his career as a hockey player or becoming a skier. He didn't give it too much thought.

"My mom put me and my three sisters in the ski program in Edmonton and I kept it up as long as I could, but eventually I had to pick one or the other since my hockey coach was afraid of me going up the mountain to go skiing and the ski coach didn't want me missing races for hockey," Lowe said. "My dad knew all along I was going to be a hockey player. I had fun skiing, but hockey was my dream."

"I can't remember whether I was 8 or 9 years old, but that was great seeing the guys putting on their jerseys for the first time. That's when I started to dream … I wanted that to be me one day." -- Keegan Lowe

"It was at a young age, and I have to confess, when I think back at the time I was kind of hoping he'd take Alpine skiing," he said. "That's a little more conducive to family weekends. He was actually a good little skier.

"You could look at a hockey player and say that kid has talent, and for a skier, if they have good glide they have good talent and Keegan had that. Like many kids over the years, you eventually have to make a decision once you get to the higher level and I'm kind of glad he made the decision to play hockey now."

To this day, Keegan's most treasured piece of sports memorabilia is a game-used hockey stick signed by Gretzky.

Prior to joining the Oil Kings last season, Keegan, who describes himself as an offensive defenseman, spent two seasons at Shattuck-St. Mary's School in Faribault, Minn.

"My dad knew (former coach) J.P. Parise, and he told us to check out Shattuck," Lowe said. "I was there for a couple of years and I really enjoyed it and my game progressed a lot. I stayed there for ninth and 10th grade and then came back to play for the Oil Kings."

Kevin Lowe felt his son's experience at Shattuck helped pave a path to this stage of his career.

"Shattuck was a great experience and that helped excel his development, so I think he remembers that and is proud of that," he said.

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